Foremost, you want the business to be ethical and honest.

For several years multilevel marketing opportunities were shied away from due to their connection to pyramid schemes. It is true that a few people made a ton of money on these schemes, but for every person who got rich, there were several who lost money. Despite the fact that a tangible product or viable service plays a major role in ethical multilevel marketing businesses, the similarities keep people from venturing into this type of commerce.

If you are one of those who do not believe a home business can make you money without taking it from someone else, consider the beginnings of multilevel marketing.

In the past many large companies such as Avon, Amway, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Tupperware and Fuller Brush used door to door selling and multilevel marketing to put their products in the homes of very happy customers while at the same time allowing ordinary people to earn an incredible income.

The distributors were able to earn as much money as they wanted and were encouraged to bring in additional people from whom they earned a small commission. This practice was acceptable since there was a tangible product changing hands and many people became very successful. The company saw its sales increase, and distributors made money.

There is no difference between today's MLM programs and the door-to-door sales opportunities that worked for so many in the past, other than a reputation tainted by unscrupulous vendors.

I have worked in the Pool and Spa business for 20 years. As with any business, there are good operators and really poor ones. Home based business is no different than any other business. Companies go out of business, people at the top steal and leave, etc.

The point is, look at the individual company, not at the industry as a whole.

This is why when you search for a home business you must carefully research the company you are considering to make sure the business is viable and product or service being offered is needed by consumers.

The first place you should look: The owners of the company. Who are they? Where have they been involved in the past? Do they make the stuff they sell? Number of companies involved with in the past? What happened with those companies?

Once you find the opportunity that feels right to you, you can expend the necessary energy to make your distributorship work for you?not only in sales increases, but also bringing in new distributors to increase your income from commissions on their sales as well.